For all of its defensive woes in the previous year, no one expected Ohio State to be here.
The Buckeyes' defense has transformed from one that struggled against big plays and could not force turnovers to one of the best in the nation seemingly overnight.
To celebrate this, we are taking a look back at Ohio State's best defensive plays of the year. To help guide this list, we are using a statistic called expected points added, which assigns a value that determines the effectiveness of each play.
As mentioned in other articles on this site that have referenced expected points added (EPA), the metric is based on the fact that not all yards are created equal. The statistic takes into account the down, distance, field position, possession and more to evaluate each play.
Parker Fleming, a Ph.D. candidate at Southern Methodist University and contributor at TCU's SB Nation site Frogs O' War, did exactly that and developed a live EPA model for college football using play-by-play data. Using his model, we take a look back at Ohio State's five best defensive plays of the year below.
For a more detailed explanation of expected points added, check out Saturday's piece on Ohio State's top five offensive plays.
5. Tavion Thomas Fumbles at the One-Yard Line, Ohio State Recovers to Secure Shutout Against Cincinnati
As Ohio State cruised to victory against Cincinnati, the Buckeyes' second-team defense was trying to hold a shut out. The Bearcats were driving late in the fourth quarter as Tavion Thomas rumbled towards the end zone.
Marcus Williamson kept the zero on the board.
The junior cornerback recorded his first career forced fumble, preventing a Bearcat score and allowing the Bucks to run out the clock when Amir Riep recovered the football in the end zone for a touchback.
The fumble cost Cincinnati an expected 6.49 points. Since the shutout loss to Ohio State, however, the Bearcats have won six straight games and are now ranked No. 17 in the nation.
4. Chase Young Strip-Sacks Jack Coan
In the midst of Ohio State's much-anticipated matchup against Wisconsin, Chase Young established himself as one of the best players in college football.
This just aint fair. pic.twitter.com/rmKPXdqMOD
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 26, 2019
This strip-sack was Young's fourth of the year and second of the day. It came at the perfect time, as well, as the Badgers were in the middle of their best drive of the game and were looking to cut into Ohio State's lead.
Instead, Wisconsin lost 6.78 expected points. The visitors never recovered from this setback, failing to get within reach of scoring position for the duration of the contest.
3. Jordan Fuller Picks Off Brian Lewerke
Ohio State's offense struggled against the mighty Spartans to start the game but eventually found its rhythm with one of its signature second-quarter runs. The Bucks ultimately won 34-10 but as the game was nearing its close, a Buckeye fumble gave the visitors great field position.
The very next play, Brian Lewerke did what Brian Lewerke does best: throw interceptions.
Senior safety Jordan Fuller came up with the deflected interception, giving him his second of the season and the fifth of his career. The play cost the Spartans 6.81 expected points.
Michigan State's drive would not have changed the outcome of the game, but might have made the visiting team's score look a little better.
2. Okudah, On His Backside, Intercepts Nebraska in the Red Zone
Perhaps you're starting to notice a trend here: EPA loves red zone turnovers.
Jeffrey Okudah did it against Nebraska, stopping the Cornhuskers' best drive of the game with a wild interception.
ARE YOU KIDDING US JEFF OKUDAH pic.twitter.com/pR6A0yvGEG
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 29, 2019
It was the junior cornerback's second interception of the game and the third of his career, and cost the Cornhuskers 8.11 expected points added in a game they would ultimately lose 48-7.
1. Damon Arnette Picks Off Indiana, Takes It 96 Yards to the House
Was there any ever doubt?
Arnette's pick-six was a fantastic capstone to a day that Arnette disrupted Indiana's offense for the entirety of the game, which Ohio State won 51-10.
The cherry on top of a monster game from Arnette. pic.twitter.com/sGm30YG3wD
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2019
The interception was the first of the season for the fifth-year corner and the fifth of his Ohio State career. It was the first touchdown of his career.
Arnette's turnover-turned-touchdown cost the Hoosiers an expected 9.80 points, and was the Buckeyes' first pick-six since Dre'Mont Jones returned an interception for a touchdown against TCU in the third game of the 2018 season.
